Developmental Milestones of your baby in the second year!

1 to 3 years

Created by
Sugandha Tiwari
Updated on Aug 11, 2017

Your little one has entered his/her second year. Their tiny feet are beginning to take small steps forward and explore new territory. Their language is expanding and mind is stretching. They are beginning to express themselves differently. A two-year-old realises, almost overnight, that he/she is an independent person, with individual likes and dislikes. Suddenly, you, as a parent may be overwhelmed by this development, that usually manifests as tantrums.

To help you understand what to expect at this age, here is a developmental milestone checklist for your child’s second year:

Motor Skills Development Milestones In The Second Year

Motor Skills consist of fine motor as well as gross motor skills. What’s important for us to remember is that while this list is a guideline on the milestones, each child does develop at their own pace. More often than not, there’s no need for concern if you feel like it’s a few weeks or even a few months past their second birthday and you don’t see some milestones. Your paediatrician will tell you a time range in which these milestones are usually met.

Overall Physical Development Of A 2-Year-Old Child

Below mentioned are some of the developmental changes you will see in your 2-year-old.

Starts walking unsupported

Begins to run

Standing on tip toe

Kicking

Climbs on low stools and jumps alone

Hand And Finger Skills Development Milestones In The Second Year

This is the time when you will notice your 2-year-old using his or her hands and finger skills to do simple tasks.

Pulls toy with one hand while walking

Holds onto support while climbing stairs

Pours liquid or solid from one container to other

What You Can Do To Aid Hand And Finger Skills

A great way of helping children develop their motor skills is by encouraging plenty of physical activity. This can include outdoor play time at the park, having a “building blocks” game together, and socialising with other children. Wherever possible, take a small flight of stairs together instead of the elevator.

Cognitive Skills Development In The Second Year

While younger babies usually process information by touching, feeling and seeing, your two-year-old has now started understanding making connections. Since his/her vocabulary has increased, sentences like “the ball is under the bed” start making sense. Emotional development is another important aspect of your child’s overall development. Children at this age feel emotions, but don’t know how to process them. So don’t try to reason with them, they just need our understanding and presence.

Your Baby’s Social Skills In The Second Year

Imitates behaviour of adults and children around, for e.g. talking on the phone

Super excited in the company of peers

Starts demonstrating independence

Begins identifying themselves as separate from others

Often show the understanding of words NO and YES

Begin to check the reaction of their actions

What You Can Do To Aid Social Skills

One of the easiest ways for you to contribute to your child’s cognitive development is by playing pretend-games with her/him. A game of Visit the Doctor, or Cooking Time can boost your child’s understanding, and you have fun, too.

Verbal Skills Milestones And A 2-Year-Old Baby

Even when you don’t realise it, your toddler is listening to, and registering every sentence you speak. The easiest way for your little one to pick up new words is by listening to you. And following four changes you will see in your todder.

Vocabulary increases

Starts putting two words together

Names some body parts like eyes, nose and common objects like cup, glass etc

Language Development For A 2-Year-Old Baby

Babies pick up languages rapidly. Children who grow up in multilingual environments learn these languages during their early childhood. As a parent, it is important for you to speak to them in as many languages as you speak in.

What You Can Do To Help Language Development

Keep talking to your toddler, even when you don’t think he/she understands what you have to say. Reading aloud has immense value. It’s never too early to start exposing your child to the wonderful world of books. Get a membership at your closest library. There’s no such thing as too many books. Sing to them, and with them. Toddlers love music, and soon you’ll see that they’re singing along with you. If you know songs in your native tongue, expose your child to them.

During the next few years your child is going to be at the peak of his/her learning curve. Try providing them with rich stimulating experiences. Involve them in family time, daily chores like cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, talking with strangers, cleaning of house etc. All these activities might seem mundane but they are a rich resource of vocabulary, actions and gestures for your child to observe copy and learn.

Did you find Sugandha’s blog on Developmental milestones on your baby’s second year useful? What significant changes did/do you notice in your child at this age? Do leave your comments…. We love hearing from you!

Hello Sakiba, don't worry at all. It is normal. children speak clearly from 3yrs of their age. if your child understands you... don't worry at all. Give him time. Talk to him as much as possible. Sing rhymes and read out the names of the various objects around him.

i have a premature baby born at 32+6 weeks,birth weight 1067 grams... now he is 20 months old... hes alhamdulilah doing well except his speech.... he gaggles and make sound.. talks to himself ...but doesnt say proper words.. just says mama,papa,aaja....... kindly help..

Very insightful Sugandha!!! my son who will b two soon does couple of these things mentioned like imitating n throwing tantrums.
he's still not saying sentences .....only words that I n my husband speak